5 ways 'culture of health' employers differ from their peers

Culture of health employers are driving engagement with digital technologies such as social networks, mobile messaging, online competitions and activity trackers. (Photo: Shutterstock)

For years, employers have been trying to find the magic formula for a successful employee wellness program. Some are doing a better job than others, and a recent white paper from Optum and the National Business Group on Health took a look at what those companies are doing right. They identified 137 companies with a self-reported established “culture of health,” (CoH) as well as 44 that did not.

A culture of health will look different at different companies depending on each one’s structure, values and other factors, but for the purposes of the survey, it was more broadly defined as “a work environment where employees have resources, tools and a support system that empowers and motivates them to take responsibility for their own health.”